The flame for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is expected to arrive in the Senegalese capital on Friday, just weeks before the competition kicks off, running from October 31 to November 13.
Before arriving in Senegal, the flame will be lit on Thursday in Athens according to the traditional Olympic ritual, using the sun’s rays focused through a parabolic mirror. It will then be officially handed over to the Senegalese delegation during a ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium, a landmark venue in Olympic history.
In Dakar, the flame’s arrival will be marked by a ceremony celebrating inclusion and the passing on of values to future generations. Around one hundred women will notably take part in the "March of the Linguères” before making their way to the Place du Souvenir Africain, where the official welcoming ceremony will be held.
For this fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games, around 2,700 young athletes are expected in Senegal. They will compete in 151 events across 25 sports.
The competitions will take place mainly in Dakar, as well as in Diamniadio and Saly, on Senegal’s Petite-Côte.